A SENIOR police officer is concerned the state's lifesaving rescue helicopter is being used unnecessarily. Inspector Darren Hopkins said some visitors to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park who found themselves in trouble were turning to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service prematurely. The helicopter retrieved two injured walkers from the Overland Track in separate incidents on Monday. Insp Hopkins said both rescues were justified, but some were not. "It's not a taxi service," he said. "It's for lifesaving and emergency rescues." He estimated the cost of a trip in the helicopter as being between $5000-$10,000, but said it was not something police should consider in making the call to use it. Insp Hopkins believed it was not sensible to consider charging for unnecessary call-outs, a view supported by the State Government and Opposition yesterday. "Then we run the risk of someone who genuinely needs it but is not very financial, not activating their EPIRB because they're worried they can't afford the cost," he said. Insp Hopkins, search and rescue coordinator for Monday's rescues, said the helicopter saved police time and money. "From a rescue point of view the helicopter is far more efficient and effective in prosecuting a rescue," he said. "A fear that I have and that I've seen growing incidents of, is the machine being used for people with the slightest injury." Shadow police and emergency management minister Rene Hidding said bushwalkers should be better educated about appropriate use of EPIRBs so they were not activated needlessly. He recalled an incident where Korean tourists had a flat tyre on the West Coast and didn't know how to change it and activated their distress beacon. But Mr Hidding said he didn't think the rescue helicopter was overused. He also said the cost of its use shouldn't be a consideration for either police or those in need. "If someone is in trouble you just go and do it," he said. "It's the Australian way." Police and Emergency Management Minister Jim Cox said attending emergency rescues was expensive, but it was a service any state couldn't afford not to provide, particularly in Tasmania.

IT'S NOT A TAXI

A SENIOR police officer is concerned the state's lifesaving rescue helicopter is being used unnecessarily. Inspector Darren Hopkins said some visitors to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park who found themselves in trouble were turning to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service prematurely. The helicopter retrieved two injured walkers from the Overland Track in separate incidents on Monday. Insp Hopkins said both rescues were justified, but some were not. "It's not a taxi service," he said. "It's for lifesaving and emergency rescues." He estimated the cost of a trip in the helicopter as being between $5000-$10,000, but said it was not something police should consider in making the call to use it. Insp Hopkins believed it was not sensible to consider charging for unnecessary call-outs, a view supported by the State Government and Opposition yesterday. "Then we run the risk of someone who genuinely needs it but is not very financial, not activating their EPIRB because they're worried they can't afford the cost," he said. Insp Hopkins, search and rescue coordinator for Monday's rescues, said the helicopter saved police time and money. "From a rescue point of view the helicopter is far more efficient and effective in prosecuting a rescue," he said. "A fear that I have and that I've seen growing incidents of, is the machine being used for people with the slightest injury." Shadow police and emergency management minister Rene Hidding said bushwalkers should be better educated about appropriate use of EPIRBs so they were not activated needlessly. He recalled an incident where Korean tourists had a flat tyre on the West Coast and didn't know how to change it and activated their distress beacon. But Mr Hidding said he didn't think the rescue helicopter was overused. He also said the cost of its use shouldn't be a consideration for either police or those in need. "If someone is in trouble you just go and do it," he said. "It's the Australian way." Police and Emergency Management Minister Jim Cox said attending emergency rescues was expensive, but it was a service any state couldn't afford not to provide, particularly in Tasmania.